4 Bass Comparison - Recording

[Number179]

I sat down to play something completely different, but this warm up song turned into a bigger challenge.

This is a POC that I plan to pursue with a lot more basses than these 4. The intention is not to be a content creator, rather, I have a lot of cool basses and I want to capture/share the differences in somewhat of a controlled presentation - albeit amateur. Now that I hear this on YT, it’s a little hot. Other than that, the sloppy playing and unprofessional setting, I’d like to solicit feedback from the community who might be interested in this format. Fire away!

4 Bass Comparison

 

[eddiditfirst]

Great job!
Really love how the 70s P was just the gnarliest of the group, bery satisfying.
I like the format, i think you made a good call not talking throughout the video, as i imagine most people seeking out tone comparisons want to get to the examples as quick as possible. It was nice at the start flicking between them in various orders also, it really helps compare their individual characters.
Thanks for all the hard work!

 

[Deleted member 271037]

If you want to compare the BASSES you should ditch all the effects and go straight to a clean DI. This video, although nicely done, tells us very little about the tone of the actual BASSES. The tone is FAR too processed/colored by all the effects.

You make a point of mentioning that you've used "no EQ or sweetening on the board or DAW" but what you HAVE done with effect pedals is coloring the tone far more than anything that would normally be done at the mixing stage.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed watching it, but if your intention is to compare the BASSES, I think you should go with a considerably less processed tone. We're really hearing more of the pedals than the basses here.

And of course, you don't mention which type of strings each bass is equipped with. Strings (both type and age) will influence the tone a LOT. A comparison of different basses won't really tell the whole story unless the strings are the same type and roughly the same age.

 

[murphy]

I sat down to play something completely different, but this warm up song turned into a bigger challenge.

This is a POC that I plan to pursue with a lot more basses than these 4. The intention is not to be a content creator, rather, I have a lot of cool basses and I want to capture/share the differences in somewhat of a controlled presentation - albeit amateur. Now that I hear this on YT, it’s a little hot. Other than that, the sloppy playing and unprofessional setting, I’d like to solicit feedback from the community who might be interested in this format. Fire away!

4 Bass Comparison

P bass rules!!! Gnarliest nasty in your face.......Love it!!

 

[Number179]

If you want to compare the BASSES you should ditch all the effects and go straight to a clean DI. This video, although nicely done, tells us very little about the tone of the actual BASSES. The tone is FAR too processed/colored by all the effects.

You make a point of mentioning that you've used "no EQ or sweetening on the board or DAW" but what you HAVE done with effect pedals is coloring the tone far more than anything that would normally be done at the mixing stage.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed watching it, but if your intention is to compare the BASSES, I think you should go with a considerably less processed tone. We're really hearing more of the pedals than the basses here.

And of course, you don't mention which type of strings each bass is equipped with. Strings (both type and age) will influence the tone a LOT. A comparison of different basses won't really tell the whole story unless the strings are the same type and roughly the same age.

I appreciate the feedback and hear what you’re saying. I have some questions, too. I think I missed the mark in describing my intentions with details and I think that’s where we might be talking apples and oranges. And I’m going to do more of these just because they’re fun and I barely got into the different basses I have hanging around. My intention for this format is
#1 recreate the sound of the subject tune
#2 capture that sound so it is accurately represented on all playback devices
#3 set it and forget it and run through the different instruments for comparison

It’s like, if you’re showing up to record the tune for the band, can you get the sound? Which instrument does it sound best on? I do get that this is not in a mix, so there is compromise there. I do NOT intend to: here’s 4 bars of the same piece finger style with tone 100, here’s 4 bars of the same piece tone 0, here’s 4 bars on this bass, here’s 4 bars on that bass…blah blah blah. I can and might do that, but I have much more fun chasing the sound of something I like, then reproducing it, then running through the different instruments.

Here’s where I get to my question. If the agreeable color and FX are set and forget, based on my intentions, doesn’t that represent exactly the differences between the instruments? IE the same outcome as a clean, clear DI of them all? I see that as playing in a golf tournament when it’s pouring rain - all the players have the same conditions which makes the competition completely even and fair.

I hope this doesn’t sound defensive, this is exactly why I wanted the TB community to respond, so I can get trusted and truthful insight.

Lastly, I did mention the strings in the description (not that it’s required reading) and you’re absolutely right. I’ll chalk that up to the nature of limited resources. I can’t afford to buy 30 sets of new strings at one time to slap them on all the instruments so they are all the same age and type - soliciting DR sponsorship hahahaha.

Thanks again and looking forward to more discussion!

 

[FullumMusic]

If the agreeable color and FX are set and forget, based on my intentions, doesn’t that represent exactly the differences between the instruments?

Kinda yes and kinda no.
It's still more showing the difference between how the FX reacts to the differences in the instruments, not necessarily the differences in the instruments themselves.

Instead of Golf, think of motorcycle racing. Rain is not an equal handicap. Some riders are much better at riding in wet conditions than others. A mid-pack rider with excellent rain riding skills could dominate. So you're not getting an equal change in tone for all the basses through those effects. You're hearing how certain settings react to the incoming tone differently.

But yes, you can definitely hear how different bass's source tones sound different through the fx chains with the same settings.

Nothing wrong with that. It's its own valid comparison that shows that when people ask, "Hey, i got [some pedal], what are good settings?" nobody can really answer because the same settings with different basses will sound differently. The test kinda proves there's no set-it-and-forget-it settings because tone is contextual, and settings need to be adjusted for the incoming tone.

But also, if you're trying to replicate the tone of the album and adding FX and processing, you might as well use EQ as well. You could probably do a similar comparison where you show how to get the same album-correct tone from basses that all provide a different tone as a starting point. (Keeping in mind that, as you stated, it's not in the mix. And also, not just mixed but run through all the recording & mixing gear and processes, and then mastering processes, and then played back on your stereo speakers not a bass amp.)

Or, to shpleck with whatever we suggest on TB. Keep doing it the way you're doing it and have fun hearing how different basses sound through the same FX chains. They're your YT videos. Make them what you want.

 

[Number179]

Kinda yes and kinda no.
It's still more showing the difference between how the FX reacts to the differences in the instruments, not necessarily the differences in the instruments themselves.

Instead of Golf, think of motorcycle racing. Rain is not an equal handicap. Some riders are much better at riding in wet conditions than others. A mid-pack rider with excellent rain riding skills could dominate. So you're not getting an equal change in tone for all the basses through those effects. You're hearing how certain settings react to the incoming tone differently.

But yes, you can definitely hear how different bass's source tones sound different through the fx chains with the same settings.

Nothing wrong with that. It's its own valid comparison that shows that when people ask, "Hey, i got [some pedal], what are good settings?" nobody can really answer because the same settings with different basses will sound differently. The test kinda proves there's no set-it-and-forget-it settings because tone is contextual, and settings need to be adjusted for the incoming tone.

But also, if you're trying to replicate the tone of the album and adding FX and processing, you might as well use EQ as well. You could probably do a similar comparison where you show how to get the same album-correct tone from basses that all provide a different tone as a starting point. (Keeping in mind that, as you stated, it's not in the mix. And also, not just mixed but run through all the recording & mixing gear and processes, and then mastering processes, and then played back on your stereo speakers not a bass amp.)

Or, to shpleck with whatever we suggest on TB. Keep doing it the way you're doing it and have fun hearing how different basses sound through the same FX chains. They're your YT videos. Make them what you want.

Awesome explanation of what we’re talking about here. I agree with your analogy and the context @Deleted member 271037 contributed. I think there are 2 paths: 1) go clean DI for the different songs - and yes, I do plan on using existing corporate rock music as the subject for these - and let the respective instrument be captured honestly and 2) dial in the subject song sound on each instrument and signal chain - short of mastering, etc - and present them. Then, option A, path of least resistance, set and forget it, and crank through the tunes and the instruments with compromised “results”.

I’m already getting better at bass in just a few comments. Thank you guys and gals. To your point, on TB, if it sounds good - it is good. (Not that this particular example sounds good or not good, let’s just say the objective was met and it “sounds”)

 

[FullumMusic]

Awesome explanation of what we’re talking about here. I agree with your analogy and the context @Deleted member 271037 contributed. I think there are 2 paths: 1) go clean DI for the different songs - and yes, I do plan on using existing corporate rock music as the subject for these - and let the respective instrument be captured honestly and 2) dial in the subject song sound on each instrument and signal chain - short of mastering, etc - and present them. Then, option A, path of least resistance, set and forget it, and crank through the tunes and the instruments with compromised “results”.

I’m already getting better at bass in just a few comments. Thank you guys and gals. To your point, on TB, if it sounds good - it is good. (Not that this particular example sounds good or not good, let’s just say the objective was met and it “sounds”)

I mean, yah, it sounds like you have a lot of different ideas around the subject matter, different possible paths, and some things you want to express tonally. I feel like if you just keep making videos trying your different paths and ideas, and trying to demonstrate your different tone objectives, how exactly you want to format your videos and what you want your demos to demonstrate will make itself more clear to you.

It's almost like songwriting in a way. You can learn a ton about songwriting, and you can learn about different ways do have different songs do different things (sad songs, dance songs, different genres, etc.) You can know all the "facts" about songwriting, but you'll really start to know-know about songwriting when you just start writing a lot of songs and you internalize everything you learned with experience.

Just keep making videos and your goals will present themselves more clearly and you'll be making the videos you want better than before (even if you don't want to be a "content creator.") It's a matter of finding what works best for you. Hopefully our info is helpful, but you'll really find what works best by just doing it.

 

[Number179]

Thanks, mate. Hahaha. “Content creator” blech. I want you turkey nerds here on TB to say: cool bass. I hate that bass too. Try this amp. Try this chain. Your posture is slouchy. You flubbed that note.

In all seriousness, I agree and appreciate the guidance, if not support. Exercise is the best way to develop muscles and direction.